Page 11 of Fake for 7 days

I cursed inwardly. Why did I always have to be so scatterbrained?

I definitely didn't want to sing karaoke again. If I didn't have the crown with me, I'd turn around, get it, and just arrive a little later. THAT would probably be less noticeable than forgetting the crown.

Carefully, I leaned a bit toward the passenger seat and pulled the bag towards me. I kept an eye on the traffic as best I could and opened the bag's zipper with one hand. The damn thing got stuck halfway.

Crap!

Nervously, I looked for a spot where I could stop briefly. But it was like always: no gap opened up at the curb. At least none that I would fit into.

Be honest, Isabella: None that match your parking skills.

"I'll find a great job. Then I'll get rich and buy a car with parking assist," I said out loud to no one in particular. You had to have some dreams, right?

First, find the crown.

As best as I could with one hand, I tugged at the zipper.

"Just open already, you stupid thing."

Nothing happened.

I stuck my right hand into the narrow gap and felt the objects inside the bag.

My key.

My wallet.

The sunglasses.

My phone.

My fingers probed further, always making sure not to lose sight of the traffic.

There.

There was something else.

I tried to feel the object, but since the bag's zipper wasn't fully open, I couldn't reach in any further.

"Damn it all!" I cursed.

I'd have no choice but to empty the bag. I moved my hand back. Or rather, I tried to. Nothing happened. I was stuck in the middle of shitty New York traffic, and my hand was stuck in my bag.

"Shit!"

I shook my hand with the bag to get rid of it.

Nothing.

I shook more vigorously.

Wham! The bag flew in a high arc against the right side window, bounced off and...

Crash!

A loud bang sounded.

I was thrown slightly forward and landed in the seatbelt, which caught me.

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